Never Underestimate the Boss
I was cruising Wikiquote this morning looking for something Peter Drucker said about business management. If I can find that one, I'll post it later. I found this instead:
And then I thought about the number of times working with different boards over the years I have imputed to them broad deficiencies in ability, perception, and basic humanity. And then I thought how about much traction I got in the toughest times by giving them the benefit of the doubt, despite my frustration.
Never underrate the boss! The boss may look illiterate. He may look stupid. But there is no risk at all in overrating a boss. If you underrate him he will bitterly resent it or impute to you the deficiency in brains and knowledge you imputed to him. -- Peter Drucker Managing for the Future: The 1990's and Beyond (1992)The first thought I had was "hey - that's me! I look illiterate and stupid to my subordinates, and I impute them at every turn!" Then I tried to gain some perspective and thought - "who's my boss?" Why, the Board, of course!
And then I thought about the number of times working with different boards over the years I have imputed to them broad deficiencies in ability, perception, and basic humanity. And then I thought how about much traction I got in the toughest times by giving them the benefit of the doubt, despite my frustration.
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